The flattened cover method is the only practical way to store matchcovers when you go for large quantities of them... lots of collectors have tens of thousands of them.

For the specialist who goes after just an addition to his casino chips or tokens collection, I would strongly advise you not remove the matches. A collection of older front-strike casino matches might number 1000 or so and can easily be stored opened flat in 3-ring binders. Watch the prices on eBay; full casino matchbooks do sell at a premium.

If you are talking about current back-strike matchbooks, you may want to shuck them and store flat as they are unlikely to ever be scarce.

Just my opinion. Every collector has to decide for himself the tradeoff of reduced storage space vs retaining the integrity of the old collectible.

Below are a few of my front-strike traders.